Railway track switch controlling apparatus



Dec, 26, 1939.

G. R. PFLASTERER RAILWAY TRACK SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS Fil ed Oct. 19, 1938 1 I 1 I I i I i I i l kli Geozye H15 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY TRACK swrrcn CONTROLLING APPARATUS George'lt. Pflastcrer, Greenvi-lle, Pat, assignorato The Union Switch & SignaL-Company, Swiss.- vale, Pa, acorporationofi Pennsylvania Application- Qctoher' 1-9, 1 9 38} SeriaFNo. 235,825 7- Claims. (01. 246-219) My invention relates to railway track switch controlling apparatus; and pa'rticul'arly to means for safeguarding the" operation'of a remotely controlled power operated track switch under conditions where local"- operation of the switch is required. I

I shall describe two forms of apparatus em-v bodying my invention, and shallthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 is a diagrammatic view' showing one form of apparatus embodying my' invention; Fig: 2 is adiagrammatic view showing amodifi'ed formoftheapparatusshown in Fig. I, and also embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts ineach of the two views;

Referring first to- Fig; 1, the reference character W designates a railway track switch which is operated by'the well-known dual selector type of mechanism. As-herein shown, this mechanism is provided with a. dual selector lever S which operates a link I. When lever S isin-n'ormal M position, as shown in the drawing, link I; condi "25 tions the switch W for operationby a: power switch operating mechanism SM, and whenlever S is in its reverse-position, link I conditions the switch for operation by amanuallyoperable lever H. The lever S is provided a contact 23 which is closed only when the lever is in itsnormal position and the switch W is operatively connected with mechanism SM for power operation, and with a contact 2-24, closed-only when the switch is conditioned for hand operation.

The power switch operating mechanism may take different forms; and, as shown, is'oi the well-known electro-pneumatictype; The mechanism SM as shown is provided with a normal valve magnet NV; a reverse valve magnet RV and a lock valve magnet LV,,it'bein'g under stood that when switch is conditioned for operation by mechanism SM, the-switch will be moved to a normal position when: valvemagnet NV is energized and to a reverse position when valve magnet RV is energized, provided that in eachinstance val-ve magnet EV is also energized; i

The reference" character J designates a pole changer operatively connected; in accordance the usual practice, with the switch W- and the switch mechanism SM. As shown; pole changer J comprises contact members W, I"! and 2 1 whichengage normal contacts IE; I6 and 2'9 respectively; is formthe conta t t-+15,

l'1--l-6'* and 2 12 9'{when the switchisin normal position, but which engage reverse coii tacts F8, [9' and 28', respectively; to form the contacts l4'l-8", IT l 9- and: 2ll28 whenthe switch is in its reverse position. v

The reference" character designates a polarized switch control relay. Relay WR is controlled to anorma'l" position or to a reverse position by means of a manually operahleilever L which may, for exampl'e, be a switch leverof an interlockingmachiha A I 4 The reference character designatesan indication relay which; as will: be expiained detail hereinafter", isenergized wheir and only when the" positionof the svs'ri'tch' control' relay WR agrees with theposition of the switch The reference character LRZ- designates 2:: nor?- its winding 25 and a second winding 2c.

The operation of the apparatus of Fig:v 1:wil*l 5 best he understood by explaining th'ecoperation and tracing. the circuitssi'rrn'lltane'o'usly.- I

I shall first assume that the apparatus is in its normal condition, as shownin Fig; I In this condition or the apparatus, the valve? mag!- net NV and the relays W-H'and KR are energized, and the relay and the-valve magnets 13V andNVared'eenergizedi RelayWR isf'energized over a normal circuit passing ten rr'fihal'B of asuitable source'of current; such as a a battery not 5mm, through dontactz4-'-5.- of

Never L, the winding of relayWR and contact 1-6 of leverL: to te'rmihal: G' of the" source of current, and polar" contact members: 9' and. M

of relay are operated: to? their normal, or

left-hand positiom as viewed: in Fig; 1, thereby engaging normal polar contacts In. and t3, respec'tively: R'elayKR: is: energized over a normal indication circuit passing from terminalr B througlr contact l4-|'5- of! pole changer J; the a winding of relay" normal" polar" contact 9'l 0 of relay WR, contact 'l'6--l"t of: pole changer minal B through contact l--2l of lever L, the winding of relay WR and contact 22-6 of lever L to terminal C, whereby relay WR is energized in a reverse direction to swing its polar contact members 9 and H to the right-hand position. The opening of normal polar contact 9-! of relay WR opens the normal circuit for relay KR with the result that relay KR releases, thereby completing the circuit for lock valve magnet LV, this latter circuit passing from terminal B through back contact 23 of relay KR, the winding of relay LR,-. the-.winding of magnet LV and selector lever contact 3-2to-3terminal C. The winding 25 of relay LR and the winding of magnet LV are preferably-so p portioned that the flux c'reated'in magnet LV is sufficient to effectively energize that'magnet valve to its open position, but the flux created by winding 25 of relay LR is insufiicient to pick up the relay. The mechanism SM now operates switch W to its reverse position, because valve magnet RV isenergized by virtue of a circuit passing from terminal B through back contact 20 of relay LR; reverse polar contact -42 of relay WR, the winding of magnet RV and selector lever contact 32 to terminal C. When the switch reaches its reverse position, relay-KR is energized overv a reverse indication circuit passing from terminal B through contact M--I8 of pole changer J, reverse polarcontact 8-9 of relay WR, the winding of relay KR, contact l9--I1 of pole changer J and selector lever contact 3--2 to terminal C. The energization of relay KR opens back contact 23 and thereby opens the energizing circuit for valve magnet LV, with the result that magnet LV becomes deenergized to lock the switch W and switch mechanism SM in their reverse positions.

With the switch operated to its reverse position in a manner just described, the switch may be restored to its normal position by .moving the lever L to its normal position. The operation of the apparatus of Fig. l-in this event is substantially the reverse of the operation just described, and it is believed, therefore, that this latter operation will be apparentfrom the foregoing description togetherwith an inspection of the drawing without further detailed explanation. I

When switch W is to be operated by hand throw lever H, it is desirablethat lever L be removed from control of mechanism SM and that control of the mechanism by the lever should not be restored unless the position of the switch when conditioned for power operation by the selector lever agrees with the position of the control lever L.

Assuming that the apparatus is again in its normal condition, the movement of the selector lever S 'to the hand operation position disconnects the switch from the mechanism SM, operatively connects the switch with hand throw lever B, opens selector lever contact -32 and closes selector lever contact.24-2. The opening of selector lever contact 3--2 opens the normal circuit for relay KR, whereupon relay KR releases to close back contact 23 and thereby establish a pick-up circuit for relay LR, the circuit passing from terminal B through 'back contact 23of relay KR, winding 25 of relay LR and selector lever contact 24-2 to terminal G. Since Winding 25 is not co'nnectedin series with the winding of magnet LV, relay LR picks up and completes a stick circuit for itself, this stick circuit including back contact 23 of relay iront contact of relay LR and the winding 26 of relay LR. It should be noted that the energizing circuit for lock valve magnet LV is opened at selector lever contact 3-2, and the circuits for magnets NV and RV are open at back contact 20 of relay LR, with the result that control of mechanism SM cannot be effected by lever L. When switch W is operated to its reverse position by means of the lever H, the contacts of pole changer J assume their reverse position.

Should the selector lever S be now restored to its normal or. poweroperating position while the switch is in its reverse position, relay KR is not energized since the position of switch W is not 'in agreement with the position of lever L, and

relay LR remains energized. Lock magnet LV now becomes energized over its previously traced circuit, and reverseyalve magnet RV is energized over a circuit passing from terminal B through front contact 31 of relay LR, contact 21-28 of pole changer J, the winding of magnet RV, and selector lever contact 32 to terminal C. It can be seen, therefore, that the switch is maintained in its reverse position by virtue of the power operated mechanism SM.

It follows that, since relay KR is energized only in the event that the position of the switch agrees with the position of the remote control lever L, and relay KR deenergized completes the stick circuit for locking relay LR, the restoration of the selector leverv S to its power operating position after the switch has been .hand operatedinto a positionin disagreement with the lever L, does not result inthe deenergization of relay LR. Since relay LR controls, at back contact 20, the operating circuits normally governed by lever -L acting through the relay WR, it is apparent thatrelay LR in its energized condition prevents the power operating mechanism SM from operating to .move switch W into agreement with the position of the control lever L.

The operator may regain control of the switch by moving lever L into agreement with the position of the switch. When lever L is moved to its reverse position, the previously traced reverse circuit is completed for relay WR, whereupon relay WR is energized in its reverse direction, thereby swinging its polar contact members to the right to close the reverse polar contacts 8-9 and l|l2. The closing of the reverse polar contact 8--9 completes the previously traced reverse circuit for relay KR, with the result that relay KR picks up to open the stick circuit for relay LR and to open the energizing circuit for valve magnet LV. Relay LR releases, thereby closing back contact 20 to complete the first traced energizing circuit for valve magnet RV, this circuit including reverse polar contact I |-l 2 of relay WR. The operator may now restore the switch W to its normal position by restoring lever L to its normal position, as was explained hereinbefore.

Referring now tov Fig. 2, the apparatus as shown is similar to the appaartus shown in Fig. 1

except that relay LR is now normally energized,

to present its non-conductor direction in opposition to the flow of current in the pick-up circuit for relay LR. Also, valve magnets NV and RV are shown provided with toggle action contacts Q3? and 3536, respectively, of the usual type,

the; contacts eachbeing closedwhen its: associated valve. magnet isenergized, and remaining closed paratus is in the conditionillustrated in Fig, 2,

wherein the valve magnet, and the: relays -W-R-, KB and LR are energized. Relay is energized over a simple normal circuit. governed by: the pole changing contacts, of lever L, as-Was.

explained in. detail in: connection with Fig. 1, and: relay is. energized; by a normal indication" circuit passing from terminal B, through contact |5-I.4 of pole changer J, the winding of= relay KR normal polar contact. 9;--I0- ofrelay WR, contact 21-29 of pole: changer J, normal valve magnet contact 33-34-, and selector lever contact. 3-2 to terminal: C Relay LR is energized over a simple pick-up circuit including front contact 31- of relay KR and the winding 25 of relay LR. The energizing circuit for valve magnet NV maybe traced from terminal B through front contact 31 of relay- LR, normal polar contact l-l.=-l-3 of relay WR, the winding of magnet NV- and selector lever contact 3-2 to terminal. C.

The switch W- may be operated toits reverse position by moving: the lever L'to-its reverse position, thereby reversing-the polarity of the current supplied to: relay WR, which: operates to its reverse: position to= open: the normal circuit for relay KB and: to prepare a circuit for magnet RV. Relay KR releases to open front contact 31, thereby opening; the pick-up circuit. for relay LR, and to close back contact 23-. Winding 2150f relay LR, beingslow releasing, maintains front contact 3!. of relay LR closed until back contact 2-3. of

relay KR. is closed, with. the: result that a stick circuit for relay LR is; completed: and which circuit also serves toenergize magnet LV. This circuit passes from terminal B; through back contact 23 of relay-KR, front contact all: of relay LR, winding-16 ofrelay' the winding of lock valve magnet LV, and selector lever contact 32 to terminal ('3; Lock magnet LV being energized, thezswitch mechanism SM actuatesrtthe switch. to: its reverse position, because the re,- verse valve magnet RV is now energized over a circuit passing; fromter-minal. B throughfront contact 3| of. relay reversepolar contact l-l-l'2- of relay WR, the winding of valve; magnet RV and selector lever contact 3-2" to terminal 6: When switch: W.- reaches. its reverse: position, pole changer J is operated to its rleyerse; position with the result that relay is energized; over a reverseindication circuit passingfromterminal B. through; contact l9.l.l of' pole changer 'J, reversepolar-contact 8--9of relayWR the windingof: relay KR, contact ill-liter pole changer J, reversevalve magnet contact 35-415 and. selec tor lever contact: 3-2.- to terminal C.

With the apparatus -inits reverse condition, the switch may be restored to-itsnormal condition by moving the lever Lto its normal position. The operation of. the apparatus "in. this event being substantially the. reverse; of the operation just described, it is believed that-this latter; op.- eration will be apparent-from-the-foregoing description together with an. inspection of; Fig, 2 without further detailed explanation.

When it is desired to hand operate-.the switch W, the selector lever S: is moved fromtitsnorma-l, or power operating, position: into its hand operating position. Assuming; that the apparatus of relayw R, as; well as; at contact 3;-2.

Big: 2' isagai'n in its normal condition, 'as: shown in Fig; 2;, the; movement of'lever S: opens selector lever contact- 3-2, thereby opening'the; circuit for normal magnet: NV; and. opening the normal circuit for relay KR, with the result that relay KR releases; The? release of. relay KRj-opens the energizing circuit: for. winding 25, of relay LR, and: since the energizing circuit for winding 26 and lock; valve magnet LV is open at selector lever. contact 3:-2:, relay'LR: also releases. Lock valve magnet; and'vrelay LR being deenergized, lever 15. is removed. from control of switch W, which maybe hand operated'toits, reverse position by hand. throw; lever H. When the switch reaches. its reverse position, polev changer J is operated: to: its reverse. position, but relay remainswdeenergized since: its. reverse indication circuit is open at; reverse polar contact; 8-9.: of With. relay KR deenergizedthe:restoration, of selector lever S to its. power operating position to close contact 3J-,2i While; the; switch is; in, its reverse position in disagreement with lever L, does not result in relay LR. energizing; Reverse valve magnet RV of switch; mechanism SM. is energized, however, overa circuit passing from terminal B through contact lf9-l 'k ofipolechanger J-',,back contact. 39 of relay LR, the winding of. valve magnet: RV

and selector lever contact 3,-2 to terminal C,

with the." result; that toggle contact 33-34: is opened, and toggle contact 3'53Ei7 -is closed. Lock valve magnet L.V; is=likewise energized over 'a circuit passing from terminal. B through back contact: 23 of relay KR, back contact 40. of relay LR, winding of, valve magnet LV, and selector lever c,on.tact:i-l--2 taterminal C. It followsthat mechanism. SM acts to retain the; switchat it's reverse position: as: long as: this di'seagreement between theswitch and lever L exists. Furthermore, it: is: apparent: that. as: long-as locking relay ER is d'eenergized, the; operating circuits. whereby lever L. normally controls the operation of mechanism SM are open-at frontcontact. 3!. of

the LR: relay, so'that mechanism SM. is: prevented fromoperating; to move the. switch into agreementwith the position. of the remote. control .gized? and relay LR picks unto-close. front contact 3d: and thereby complete the first traced circuit for reverse valve-.magnet RV which. includes reverse polar contact I:l".ig2;' of. relay WR; The

operator. may now restore switch: to: its normal position. by movinglever L to its. normal position, as was-explained hereinb efore.

From; the foregoing description. of the operation. of. the: apparatus of: Figs. 1. and 2, it. is ap.

parent. that. I have provided simple and; safe means; for preventing remote. control of the switch mechanism. while: the switch is hand operated, and-also for preventing. remote control unless the. position; of the control lever agrees with: the-position of theswitch,

. Although. I. have: herein shown and described I only twof'orms; oflapparatus-embodying my: in-

venti'on,.;it is: understood that various. changes and modifications may be made therein' within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway track switch, a manually controlled contact member having a normal and a reverse position, power operating means controlled by said contact member for operating said switch to its normal position in agreement with the normal position of said member and to its reverse position in agreement with the reverse position of said member, means for at times manually operating said switch, a selector lever having a normal position in which said switch is operatively connected with said power operating means and a reverse position in which said switch is operatively connected with said manual operating means, an indication relay, circuit means eiTective for energizing said indication relay when and only when said selector lever is in its normal position and the position of said manually controlled member agrees with the position of said switch, a normally deenergized locking relay, circuit means for energizing said locking relay governed by said indication relay, and means governed by said locking relay when energized for preventing said power operating means .from operating said switch into agreement "with the position of said manually controlled member.

2. In combination, a railway track switch, a control relay having a normal and a reverse position, power operating means for operating said switch to its normal position in agreement with the normal position of said manually controlled relay and to its reverse position in agreement with the reverse position of said manually controlled relay, means for at times manually operating said switch, a selector lever operable to a normal position in which said switch is operatively connected with said power operating means and to a reverse position in which said switch is operatively connected with said manual operating means, an indication relay, circuit means effective for energizing said indication relay when and only when said selector lever is in its normal position and the position of said manually controlled relay agrees with the position of said switch, a locking relay, a pick-up circuit for said locking relay governed jointly by said indication relay and said selector lever, a stick circuit for said locking relay governed by said indication relay, and means governed by said locking relay for preventing said power operating means from operating said switch into agreement with the position of said control relay.

3. In combination, a railway track switch, a control relay having a normal and a reverse position, power operating means for operating said switch to its normal position in agreement with the normal position of said control relay and to its reverse position in agreement with the reverse position of said control relay, means for at times manually operating said switch, a selector lever operable to a normal position in which said switch is operatively associated with said power operating means and to a reverse position in which said switch is operatively connected with said manual operating means, an indication relay, circuit means effective for energizing said indication relay when and only when said selector lever is in its normal position and the position of said control relay agrees with the position of said switch, a locking relay, a pick-up circuit for said locking relay governed by said indication relay,

a stick circuit for said locking relay governed jointly by said indication relay and said selector lever, and means governed by said locking relay for preventing said power operating means from operating said switch into agreement with the position of said control relay.

.4. In combination, a railway track switch, a control relay having a normal and a reverse position, power operating means for operating said .switch to its normal position in agreement with the normal position of said control relay and to its reverse position in agreement with the reverse position of said control relay, means for at times manually operating said switch, a selector lever having a normal position in which said switch is conditioned for operation by said power op erating means and a reverse position in which said switch is conditioned for operation by said manual operating means, an indication relay, circuit means eifective for energizing said indication relay when and only when said selector lever is in its normal position and the position of said control relay agrees with the position of said switch, a locking relay having a first winding and a second winding, circuit means for energizing said first winding of said locking relay governed by a front contact of said indication relay; circuit means for energizing said second winding of said locking relay governed jointly by a back contact of said indication relay, a front contact of said locking relay and a contact closed only when said switch is conditioned for operation by said power operating means; and means governed by said locking relay when deenergized for preventing said power operating means from operating the switch into agreement with the position of said control relay.

5. In combination, a railway track switch, a

control relay having a normal and a reverse position, power operating means for operating said switch to its normal position in agreement with is conditioned for operation by said manual opcrating means, an indication relay, circuit means effective for energizing said indication relay when and only when said selector lever is in its normal position the position of said control relay agrees with the position of said switch, a locking relay having a first winding and a second win'ding, circuit means for energizing said first winding of said locking relay governed jointly by a back contact of said indication relay and a contact closed only when the switch is conditioned for operation by said power operating means, circuit means governed jointly by a back contact of said indication relay and a front contact of said locking relay for energizing said second winding of said locking relay, and means governed by said locking relay when energized for preventing said power operating means from operating the switch into agreement with the position of said control relay.

'6. The combination with a two position manually controlled switch relay and a railway switch having a two position selector lever effective in but one position to condition the switch for power operation, and an indication relay controlled by the switch and the switch relay and arranged to be energized when and only when the switch is conditioned for power operation and the switch relay agrees in position with the switch,'of a lock relay having a pick-up circuit and a stick circuit each of which includes a contact of the indication relay but only a selected one of which includes also a contact controlled by the selector lever and closed only in a particular one of its positions, and power operating means controlled by said lock relay for moving the switch to a position of correspondence with the switch relay.

7. The combination with a two position manually controlled switch relay and a railway switch having a two-position selector lever effective in but one of its two positionsto condition the switch for power operation, and an indication relay controlled by the switch and the switch relay and arranged to be energized when and only when the switch is conditioned for power operation and the switch relay agrees in position with the switch, of a lock relay having a pick-up winding and a stick winding, a circuit for one of said windings of said lock relay including a contact of said indication relay and a contact controlled by the selector lever and closed only in a particular one of its positions, a circuit for the other of said windings of said lock relay including a contact of said indication relay, and power operating means controlled by said lock relay for moving the switch to a position of correspondence with the switch relay.

GEORGE R. PFLASTERER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,l8h,566- December 26, 1959.

GEORGE R. PFLA STERER. It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the I above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 1 second column, l-ine 5b,, claim 5, before "the" insert and; and. that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in-the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 50th day of January, A. .D. 1%O.

. Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) I Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

